Degree Apprentice Design Engineer

Summary

We're all about providing opportunities to start your engineering career in an industry which provides opportunity for growth and development as we work towards Net-Zero targets and develop our electricity networks to meet current and future requirements. We'll invest in you, giving you time to learn and develop into a skilled engineer.

Wage

£17,000 a year

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Annual reviews throughout the program

Training course

Civil engineer (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday. Some flexibility on start/finish time, to include 8 working hours per day between 7.30am and 6.30pm (8.30am-5.00pm is the most common working day for our employees).

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

5 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

As a Degree Apprentice Design Engineer, you will be involved in learning and developing your knowledge and skills within the electrical transmission and distribution sector.

This will involve working with our Overhead Line and Underground Cables teams to deliver a range of projects and engineering solutions, from early stage optioneering, to feasibility studies, right through to detailed design and providing design support to our clients during the construction stage.

A typical day may see you involved in the following:

Using engineering design software to create models of proposed and existing line routes and structures
Carrying out structural analysis on existing electricity network assets to assess suitability for reuse or replacement
Designing foundations for new assets including electricity pylons
Evaluating various options to connect wind, solar or battery storage facilities to the electricity network
Producing engineering drawings using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software
Create reports detailing engineering solutions for submission to our customers
Working with our project management team to develop plans and schedules to deliver our designs and projects to budget and time constraints

Where you’ll work

Lake View Drive
Annesley
Nottingham
NG15 0ED

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Civil engineer (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Apply engineering principles to solve engineering problems: scientific, theoretical and technical principles.
Apply civil engineering techniques, procedures and methods, and review and evaluate the results, including measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, constructing, maintaining or operating civil engineering components and systems; consider how continuous improvement can contribute to improved performance.
Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
Identify, interpret and compare information to select materials, components or parts used in civil engineering.
Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate civil engineering problems.
Produce civil engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model civil engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
Contribute to the design, development and implementation of civil engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of civil engineering solutions.
Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against civil engineering project performance criteria.
Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
Apply ethical principles, identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).
Apply engineering principles to solve engineering problems: scientific, theoretical and technical principles.
Apply civil engineering techniques, procedures and methods, and review and evaluate the results, including measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, constructing, maintaining or operating civil engineering components and systems; consider how continuous improvement can contribute to improved performance.
Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
Identify, interpret and compare information to select materials, components or parts used in civil engineering.
Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate civil engineering problems.
Produce civil engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model civil engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
Contribute to the design, development and implementation of civil engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of civil engineering solutions.
Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against civil engineering project performance criteria.
Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
Apply ethical principles, identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).

Your training plan

Qualification: Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering
Location: Study; Nottingham Trent University, Work; Groundline Engineering, Annesley, Nottinghamshire
Delivery; Day release (4 days work and 1 day at university per week during term time. 5 days work per week including study time outside of term time – Paid annual leave is included)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 5)
Maths (grade 5)

A Level in:

Maths (grade C)
Two other subjects (grade B minimum)

T Level in:

Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction (grade Merit)

BTEC in:

National Diploma (18 Units) in Engineering subject (grade DMM)

Other in:

Civil Engineering Technician (grade Successful completion)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

IT (grade 5)
Science (grade 5)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Team working
Creative

Other requirements

Attendance on site visits can help to support your study and progression by seeing your design work being implemented at construction stage. However, this is not essential for the role and applications from candidates of any mobility or physical abilities are welcome.

About this company

Groundline Engineering are all about keeping the lights on...literally! We're the team working hard on innovative solutions that make energy networks stronger, safer and smarter. What does that mean though? Look up! See those overhead power lines delivering the electricity infrastructure that keeps our daily lives ticking by? we play a critical role in keeping them all up there, safely and sustainably. Plus, there’s all the technology beneath your feet, that our underground cabling team has played a critical role in developing. Our Engineers and CAD team work with the latest technology to deliver engineering solutions to clients across the globe.

http://www.groundlineengineering.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

25 days leave plus bank holidays Private healthcare, day off for birthday, day off for wellbeing, social events Employee Assistance Program Discretionary bonus

After this apprenticeship

Progression to Assistant Design Engineer role upon completion of degree apprenticeship. Eligible for professional qualification at Incorporated Engineer (IEng) grade with the Institution of Civil Engineers. Progression to the Design Engineer role following a successful IEng professional review.

Further career progression options for Senior Engineer roles, project management or team leader positions. Further study or equivalent experience to Masters’ degree level will gain eligibility for a professional qualification at Chartered Engineer grade with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) following successful professional review.

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